Why doesn't the sodium atom gain seven electrons so that its third shell becomes the filled outermost shell?
A)It would be too difficult for another atom to lose seven electrons.
B)Only six additional electrons are required to fill the outermost shell of sodium.
C)In gaining seven more electrons,sodium's fourth outer shell becomes filled.
D)Sodium's nuclear charge is not strong enough to hold that many more electrons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sodium's nuclear charge, which corresponds to the number of protons in its nucleus, is not strong enough to attract and hold seven additional electrons in a stable manner. This is because the electrostatic force between the positively charged nucleus and the negatively charged electrons would not be sufficient to maintain a stable configuration with such a large increase in electron count.

Why Doesn't the Sodium Atom Gain Seven Electrons So That